Tuesday, 30 August 2011

As always our Altered week is sponsored by our friends at The Craft Barn who have a stunning range of alterables to tempt every altered artist.

Here is my design team piece.

My team mate Neil has been kind this week and allowed us to alter anything! Here is a mirror from a certain Swedish well know store transformed into a key holder.

A mixture of book page and old music manuscript has been stamped with the Magnolia house stamp this sort of represents our residents - 3 musicians a book lover and a crafter!

Some basic cup hooks and we each have a hook on which to hang our keys!

Here is the whole thing. First it was gessoed, then painted with blue emulsion. All the stamping has been done with archival ink - a little painting with distress inks here and there. The bottom panel was painted with brushed corderoy crackle paint by Ranger - it gives a great texture.

I actually began this at the July Claxby retreat inspired by something similar in Craft Stamper. I had none of the original materials used so improvised and I am really pleased with the results. this is for us for a change too. The colours are perfect for the dining room!

Monday, 29 August 2011

Now I do go away for the weekend quite often but not usually with my OH! So when the offer of a caravan came up for the weekend I could not resist. Our Friends Pat and Bill have one at a park near Filey - the destination for many of my childhood holidays so with fond memories awaiting we set off on Friday night. Half way there I was gutted that I had left my precious promarkers behind so on Saturday we set off to Whitby with some craft shopping in mind.
Hubby took these pics - Megs and I had an icecream whilst he went up the 199 steps to the Abbey for this amazing view!
After finding the craft shop I also found the Whitby crafty Individuals stamps and as I had got my distress inks was up for an inky night of fun :0)
Doesn't it look glorious - we were so lucky with the weather!
And here is the view from the South Cliff where we parked the car along with the rest of North Yorkshire so it seemed LOL. After a chilled evening watching Dr Who, X Factor and then comedy last night of the proms, whilst I beavered away making atcs for an upcoming meet, we had another wonderful nights sleep (the bed was amazing! yes honestly in a caravan!) we decided Filey was Sundays destination.
Sadly the only downside (apart from the promarkers) after a small town tour the tide was in. I did really want to see the sea though and I very much did!
Right up to the sea wall we literally sat for an hour just watching and relaxing with the sea. People and dog watching whilst we sat was wonderful.
and the brigg in the distance - got to love the wonder of Filey x
Finally there is my girl - just like me- fascinated by the calming effect the sea has , loving the sounds and smells and we have loved spending time with her too. A wonderful family weekend which has recharged our batteries for another busy week ahead. Thanks Pat and Bill xx

Friday, 26 August 2011

Wow its been a mad and crazy day today - we had a busy stamping club session with a stampin up party too - Wow its been busy :0) Over at The Stamp Man challenge the theme is travel - I have lots of French type stamps - goodness knows why as I am not a traveller at all - have never seen the Eiffel tower or indeed the Mona Lisa still who needs to see when Mr Holtz brings them all to our doorstep anyway!

Here I used adirondack lettuce and butterscotch inks to make the background - lots of layered stamping in there all from the same Mini classics TH stamp set. I used water to bleach out her face and then a frame made using nesties which I have painted with crackle paint. A little fringing and the addition of a very old passport stamp to the bottom and some fibres to hang it its done. My she is such a happy soul LOL

Do stop by and see my team mates gorgeous creations they are sure to inspire you to play along.

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

This project was done at Angelas mini retreat at the end of July and is also one of the first Tuesday Taggers tutorials we did (though we went with Pinks and orange in the end) so we thought we would revisit with all our fab new dylusions sprays! The stamps are all by crafty individuals.
The leaves are from Lovin' ink and have been sprayed with dye ink and shimmer sprays before being shaped. Its fun doing something different and with recycled card board too! i sent this to my lovely pal Janet who has had a tough year with breast cancer treatment - watching the birds nesting has been the highlight of a difficult treatment cycle so i thought this may help cheer her a little. I forgot to take a picture of it hanging - but it does hang up from the string at the top - or rather poundland garden twine!

Do stop by TIOT where my team mates have gone wild with this weeks wild card!

Sunday, 21 August 2011

I have to confess - I am not a big art journaller (is there such a word?) I understand it - can do it and if I had "got it" 6 years ago when my mind was full of angst then it would have been a great therapy however sometimes folks want us to play art journalling along with them so this is one of my pages from such a time. I do have a journal on the go which is about recording me at the place I am now and I will share it when I have more to share but until then....

I do love inking and building up layers through stamping I guess thats as much of a therapy as I need at the moment - it makes me feel content. Dy also taught me how to draw vines which seemed to work well here too. the flower stamp is a CS freebie from yonks ago stamped onto book page and inked. Same with the butterflies.

Of course I wanted the main feature to be the picture and the words which is a bit of fun poking at my own expense :0) Hubby doesn't like it at all but it really makes me smile. This is a loose page from a journal my pal bought me which is still coming together hence the holes on the RH side. Hope you like it x

Friday, 19 August 2011

The Paperlane - where I did the Molly Blooms workshop- has begun a new challenge - this is the second one - I couldn't join in before as I didn't have any stamps! No excuse now so I rummaged around to see what papers I could find. In amongst the gorgeous stash Angela gave me I found these fab papers by Michelle Coleman for Fancy Pants called summer soiree - Perfect so then my project began to grow from a card into a mini book. Here is the front cover
and a peep inside whilst the book is all concertina-d up. Look at the fab crab charm :0)
so here is what you see immediately its opened - the front and back pages. I thought that little journalling bit was perfect for a message.
Once opened out this is the first scene. The papers set the scene really but doesn't Molly look at home paddling in the sea. I also loved the saying - it summed up perfectly my week off work!
Into the middle and George is ready to fly his kite. I borrowed this one from Mum - so far George is absent in my own collection. Then on the next page summery Molly sitting by the palm tree!
Last pages - again the Molly and Donkey I borrowed from Mum and I thought she looked great sitting up there! I have added flags and buttons from the freebie set from Simply homemade earlier in the year which made all the difference. Some glossy accents and stickles and its complete.
Here is the book all in one piece - difficult to photograph but I hope you get the picture.

Hi folks Friday again and a day I can play along with sharing my list of happy thoughts this week. I am typing on a happy thought as I have a new laptop! Never had one before and I must say I am rather loving it! So thanks hubby for my pressie xx

No 1 son has grown his hair! Now this may not seem a big thing but he has been shaving his head for the last 3 years and I have not dared say I hated it. Now he has decided its a new start with his place at Manchester Uni secure for the full time Masters he wants to study he has grown it back and I love it! He is not as keen on me touching it, as I am stroking it lots,but hey he will be gone to Uni soon enough so I wont be able to then LOL.

No 2 son sets off tomorrow for a week in Edinburgh with his band. They are playing at a musical called Rent - his first proper musical job. They are all excited and our house will be bursting at the seams tonight as we put them all up over night before setting off! I love it that our kids feel happy to bring their friends here - its not the ritz and we dont have much but they are all welcome!

Our Megs is away on hols which isnt a good thing for me but a lovely thing for her. She has gone with my Mum and Bro with his family and I am sister sitting for our Amy who has Downs Syndrome. She lives next door - the houses are inter connected - and thinks she is looking after me :0) We stayed up late watching Mamamia and drinking red wine last night which she loved!

So I have had a week to craft and do a little cleaning. As the notice in the house says I am Not a Domestic Goddess so I hate having to do chores on my time off but of course some do need doing in the course of a week! The cooker especially begged attention and is now gleaming!

I went to the Molly Blooms class last Sunday - what fun that was and I have really enjoyed playing with my purchases this week some of which I will share very soon. 2 Christmas card classes this week - both quiet but its holiday season so not to worry. We had lots of fun anyway.

I have really enjoyed driving when I could too. Simple things mean so much when they have been taken away from you.

I have loved the company of everyone I have spent time with this week especially my lovely pal Georgina last Sunday at The Class. She made me a wonderful Alice in Wonderland stationary kit and a darling little hankie box too. Love it. Her daughter Jo made me a fab calendar book as well - I am lucky to know these wonderful folks who fill my life with joy and friendship. Along with my family, friends are the most important things in my life and I would do all I could for them and I know they would do for me - that has to be my biggest blessings and I love them all.

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

I run twice monthly Christmas card classes at home - the first for August was last night. It was a quiet session with 2 regular players. At a previous session i showed them all the handmade Christmas cards I had received last year and this was one that stood out. The original was made by my teamie Cazro so last night Helen and Alison had a go - This is Helens - sorry for the poor lighting by it was 9pm!
I was seriously impressed and so were they - they loved the technique so huge thanks to Carole for tons of inspiration!

Today is a chill day at home with my sis - everyone else is out so its chill time! later we are going to watch mamamia (again) and have a bottle of wine :0) Its great being on holiday from work and spending time at home too!

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Only me though everyone else in the team has come up with something different. This week is an anything goes week where literally anything goes! As its the summer hold we thought we would be easy on our players and ourselves and just do something - go with the flow if you like.

I of course, went to a Molly Blooms class on Sunday taught by the lovely Clare Rowlands,Creator of Molly and George :0) the class was a waterfall card (honestly Jose I only moaned once! LOL).

Clare tried to get us working in sepia tones - which I really liked - not sure if my colouring is so strong though. I liked the scene creating.
Spent my voucher on £60 worth of MBs and a spellbinders set :0) Took along cakes to share too. it was lovely to kick back and relax in a class without teaching - not that I don't love it just sometimes its nice to be the pupil again and let someone else guide you along.
Soz this pic is blurred wasnt drunk honest LOL
How cute is he - and the lush postcard stamp too :0) I finished my book at home so although the bare bones is the same its not an exact copy of Clares.

As always I am soooo proud of my team mates for playing along and giving us heaps of inspiration - check them out here . Hope you have fun with our anything goes theme - and if you have chance to go play with Clare and her gorgeous stamps - go on treat yourself XX

Monday, 15 August 2011

This is an old one I have shown you before but what I really want to share is that a fabulous swap goes on here at Running with Scissors. Organised by the uber talented Tracey Jackson this monthly atc swap is such fun. Tracey has set all the themes for the year so you can get organised and with some talented ladies joining in you are sure to love the swaps you receive back. Do stop by and check it out if you love atcs xx

back later with my project from yesterday which needed finishing off - the glitter is still drying!

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Dear sweet Babs has asked me to make another card for her family who only ever seem to have little girls :0) This one is due at the end of the month so I have done a different card for her than the last teddy baby card I made. The lush pearly trim is by Lovin Ink - I love it. The fab pram charm from quixotic paperie, sentiment stampin up, card and ribbon from my stash.
Here is a close up of the dear sweet magnolia baby makes you want to go ahhhhhh.

Its been a busy 2 days at work so I am glad for a day off tomorrow - I'm going to do some baking tonight :0) love baking just have to have a reason to share so I don't stuff my face!

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

This week is tag week at Try it on Tuesday and the challenge is to include a tree on your project. perfect excuse for me to use some new sayings stamps i bought last week by Paperartsy. I have done my favourite crushed background using tumbled glass and forest moss distress inks and the trees are stampin up lovely as a tree set.

I have used a bit of packaging to add texture around the tag which is real life makes it look much better. A bit of twine and a plastic disc with leaves stamped on as a charm and the look is complete.

Do stop by and see my team mates work over on Try it on Tuesday - fabulous tress to be seen Have a great Tuesday xx

Monday, 8 August 2011

Here as promised is the card I have been working on over the weekend when I have not been at work - papers are all by Echo park which I bought in the sale at Glitterpot. So this is the front.

and a close up of the gorgeous Santa - this is from the Tim Holtz Christmas range - collage style - i have punched out part of the image.
I followed the theme through to the back
the little snowflakes are done with an xcut punch - the border punch is Martha Stewart.
and opened fully waiting for its message x I really enjoyed this especially as it was for something rather special - who knows it may be kept a long time :0)

Sunday, 7 August 2011

Early Yesterday morning to do a telephone interview! A card magazine may be running a story on the card collection I have been putting together for the Poppy Appeal here in Skipton. As I have to submit some photos too - it may be a card you have sent me thats in the pic :0)

Tickets are going really well for the event and OH is really pleased its all coming together so brilliantly and that folks are interested in raising money for this very worth while cause. I have to say I have been blown away by your card donations - stunning work and amazing Poppy stamps - thanks so much for all your support. I will keep you updated on how it is all going and how much is raised.

Its my birthday this week too - and I got an amazing present from the DVLA - yep just minutes before Tim was going to drive me to work yesterday - I opened the letter containing my license (the less said about the awful picture the better!) so I jumped in the car myself and drove there and back for the first time since May 2009. You don't forget what to do thats for sure - the freedom was amazing. now we just have to negotiate terms of car use.........

So yes its my birthday on Thursday and what momentous thing will I be doing??? well I have invited my pals to join me for breakfast at the local Wetherspoons so we can chomp and chat and drink coffee for hours - idling away the time just being together. Possibly my lovely chum Jae will join us too - though its quite a drive from Rochdale she may just drop in anyway :0) My special birthday treat is on Sunday though when I go to a Molly Blooms class at the paperlane in Northallerton - and guess what I can drive Michelle there instead of her doing all the driving !we will meet up with the gorgeous Georgina too which will be utterly fabulous. I can't wait.

Before all that excitement though I have the wonderfully talented Kerry coming round tomorrow to play and plan - we have a few charity days coming up for the local community creche so need to get our thinking heads on - to make the working bit easier we are having a lovely lunch of quiche and salad and a bit of crafting on the side - what a wonderful way to spend my day off :0)

I did squeeze in some crafting on Friday night - 2 RSVP cards for commissions which I forgot to take pics of and then I have played around with a very special Christmas napkin card as a commission for Santa - you see he would like my niece and nephew to go visit him in Lapland and wanted to send a special invitation to them both so that was not only a very special card but a one off too! Will share it soon :0) if you don't know what I mean - here is a link to a fab Tutorial

Friday, 5 August 2011

Hello Rockers and Rockettes - Friday has flown by again so time to share the positives from this week that set me up for the weekend :0)

Huge thanks for all the lovely comments this week - it has been lovely to share so many projects from my weekend last week and also to share the variety of things I like to play with. Stamping is a passion now and I just love "making" things so its been fun to explore a little.

The week started off well with Stamping club last Friday where we continued playing with less is more. Here is a card I made for a friend - using masking and inks its so simple I love it! Cards don't have to be complicated and thins is a wonderful technique if you have little time but still want a home made card.

On Saturday it was time to go to Angelas and craft with her and the lovely Anne. It was a wonderful weekend brought about by the internet and blogging - so huge thanks Mr Blogger for allowing me this wonderful experience of meeting with new friends and enriching my life. Angela came on the Lovin' ink craft retreat in march with her wonderful daughter Belle. Retreats really are a place to meet and make the most wonderful people.

Here is a simple card I made last weekend for a colleague at work who is getting married. yesterday I made 20 favour boxes as her wedding gift and another colleague is filling them with cupcakes!

Simple but there again the wedding is - simple and elegant hosted in a Scottish castle on the 18th August - wishing you all the best Sal and Rushie xx

Monday saw me back at work and one of my colleagues has been off sick for a while - it was lovely to give her a hug - she was greeted with flowers and love from us all - we missed her so.

Tuesday the week caught up with me and I was sooooo tired having worked the early shift of 7-3 i collapsed into bed early having achieved very little!

Wednesday I had a class at home. 6 Ladies came to learn how to use the simple brushing technique on their cards here is the first card we made.

and here is the second.

It seemed to go well so i hope they enjoyed it!

and yesterday i made favour boxes. :0) and had a lovely afternoon with a crafting buddy checking out the local shop and chinwagging over coffee.

As always I am very lucky to have family and friends around me who are so loving and thoughtful and this is my biggest "thankful" every week but is all so true.

So thats my week - Lots to be happy about hope your week was too x Stop by The Celtic House and find more folks beginning the weekend with lots to be grateful for x